Men’s Eagles

Eagles to take on Ireland at BBVA Compass Stadium

“We have established a great foundation for rugby in Houston with our previous match between the USA and Italy last year, welcoming a record-setting crowd of 18,000 people.”

World Class Rugby Returns to Houston for an International Test Match Between USA & Ireland on Saturday, June 8, 2013

HOUSTON (January 23, 2013)—International Rugby Returns to Houston This Summer! The U.S. Men’s National Rugby Team, The Eagles, will host Ireland at BBVA Compass Stadium, an AEG Facility (www.bbvacompassstadium.com), on Saturday, June 8, 2013, as one of the only international matches being held in the U.S. this year. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.

“We have established a great foundation for rugby in Houston with our previous match between the USA and Italy last year, welcoming a record-setting crowd of 18,000 people,” said USA Rugby President and CEO, Nigel Melville. “With the success of that game, we are pleased to return to Houston with another highly-anticipated international match, this time welcoming Ireland and their fans.”

This match up offers rugby fans a great opportunity to witness Ireland, a Tier 1 nation currently ranked 6th in world, battle on American soil against The Eagles, who are currently ranked 16th. The teams have previously faced off in 2009 and again in 2011 at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand; both matches resulted in victory for Ireland. The U.S. Men’s National Team will be seeking a long-awaited win as they face off again in Houston.

“We are pleased to host our third international rugby match at BBVA Compass Stadium and welcome the U.S. Men’s National Team back to Houston,” said BBVA Compass Stadium general manager Doug Hall. “It is our goal to provide rugby fans, as well as the teams, with a unique and memorable experience including a pre-game fan fest for this game. Houston has proven that it’s fast becoming a rugby town and we are thrilled to be a part of that growth and development.”

Tickets for the USA Rugby Men’s Eagles vs. Ireland test match will go on-sale beginning Monday, January 28 at 10 a.m., and will be available online at www.axs.com or www.bbvacompassstadium.com or by calling 888-929-7849. Tickets are also available at the Ticket Office, open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Prices start at $20. Group tickets will be available beginning Monday, January 28 to groups of 10 or more by calling 713-547-3055.

About USA Rugby

Founded in 1975, USA Rugby is an official member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). The organization has approximately 90,000 members and is responsible for the development of the boys, girls, high school, collegiate and club rugby programs, and ultimately all of the national teams representing the U.S. in international competitions. The current structure of USA Rugby comprises seven Territorial Unions (TU) and 34 Local Area Unions (LAU) that compete for regional and National Championships. USA Rugby's national headquarters is located in Boulder, Colo., and is run by full-time staff under the direction of current CEO and President of Rugby Operations Nigel Melville.

About BBVA Compass Stadium

BBVA Compass Stadium, managed by AEG Facilities and part of its global network of the most elite venues worldwide, is a state-of-the-art, open-air stadium designed to host Houston Dynamo matches and Texas Southern University football games as well as additional professional, collegiate and community sporting events, concerts, exhibitions, conventions and special events. Opened on May 12, 2012, the 340,000-square foot, 22,000-seat stadium is the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer located in a city’s downtown district. With its downtown location, the new stadium is a part of a true ‘Stadium District,’ which includes Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center, as well as the George R. Brown Convention Center, Discovery Green, Warehouse Live and House of Blues.